Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairfield,
NJ
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
OK folks... I need some suggestions for my Avistar Nose Gear.... and Fast!
Due to our flying field (grass/sod field), it was suggested (by an experienced pilot) to change my wheels to 3 1/2" on the main and 4" on the nose.
Here is my problem: the 4" wheel is too wide for my gear.... there is absolutly no room for a wheel collar.
See Pic
I came up with 3 possible solutions:
1. Change the Nose Gear to meet specs - See Pic for measurements.
2. Get longer axles for the main - put 4" tires on main / 3 1/2" on nose.
3. Go with 3 1/2" tires all around.
I need some opinions fast..... I am supposed to meet the instructor on friday @ 8:00 am!!!
Thanks.
UFD
Due to our flying field (grass/sod field), it was suggested (by an experienced pilot) to change my wheels to 3 1/2" on the main and 4" on the nose.
Here is my problem: the 4" wheel is too wide for my gear.... there is absolutly no room for a wheel collar.
See Pic
I came up with 3 possible solutions:
1. Change the Nose Gear to meet specs - See Pic for measurements.
2. Get longer axles for the main - put 4" tires on main / 3 1/2" on nose.
3. Go with 3 1/2" tires all around.
I need some opinions fast..... I am supposed to meet the instructor on friday @ 8:00 am!!!
Thanks.
UFD
#2
Member
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wamego, KS,
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
UFD,
Not sure if changing your wheels is really necessary. I have been flying my Avistar out of a grass pasture with absolutely no problems with the stock wheels.
Dave
Not sure if changing your wheels is really necessary. I have been flying my Avistar out of a grass pasture with absolutely no problems with the stock wheels.
Dave
#3
Senior Member
My Feedback: (10)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Douglasville,
GA
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
More or less in agreement with the previous post, but then again,
I'm not sure how bad your field is. Go with the 3 1/2's all the way around,
if it really is that soggy. It won't hurt anything at all, and it could be helpful.
I'm not sure how bad your field is. Go with the 3 1/2's all the way around,
if it really is that soggy. It won't hurt anything at all, and it could be helpful.
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairfield,
NJ
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Taildragger...
Hey Vinnie....
I was going to convert to a taildragger but it was highly NOT reccomended for a first plane. See Whirley Bird's Post on the Avistar Taildragger Mod..
I was going to convert to a taildragger but it was highly NOT reccomended for a first plane. See Whirley Bird's Post on the Avistar Taildragger Mod..
#7
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
Whew! That's gona look like Roger Rabbit's plane with 4" wheels. We have one at our field that added bigger wheels for our grass - but he only went up to 2-3/4." My opinion would be that the 3-1/2" is plenty, and will still add enough drag to be noticable. You would have been able to land on water with 4" foamies.
#8
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: hollywood, MD
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
Okay UFD I read the thread. Lots of good info there. Mine looks like Cheech's with wheel-pants and gear from a dearly departed Cap 232. Plus I made it a bolt-on wing and that's WORK! Have some fun with the #3 fix for a while and when the spirit moves you...change to a tail-dragger. Looks alone are worth the effort.
I have the sticky paper version which has a hatch over the fuel tank compartment that makes the process a lot easier than some of those described. I just added a piece of 3/16 ply just ahead of the forward bulkhead, drilled some holes for #10 blind nuts and installed the gear with nylon bolts. Works great.
I drilled a hole in the center of the elevator at the hinge line for access to the rudder and installed a conventional tail-wheel bracket with the wire bent to the bottom of the rudder.
I have the sticky paper version which has a hatch over the fuel tank compartment that makes the process a lot easier than some of those described. I just added a piece of 3/16 ply just ahead of the forward bulkhead, drilled some holes for #10 blind nuts and installed the gear with nylon bolts. Works great.
I drilled a hole in the center of the elevator at the hinge line for access to the rudder and installed a conventional tail-wheel bracket with the wire bent to the bottom of the rudder.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Whitby, ON, CANADA
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
A quick question but how big a prop are you running?
Me and the Nuker family have had 3 avistars that we used and are using for training. With a grass field I had 2 3/4" wheels on all sections with little to no difficulty. I was running a .46fx with an 11x6 prop and didn't have clearance of heavy grass problems.
One member at our field was running a 12.25 x 3.75 prop and that was a bit too long but otherwise there have been no issues.
Bob
Me and the Nuker family have had 3 avistars that we used and are using for training. With a grass field I had 2 3/4" wheels on all sections with little to no difficulty. I was running a .46fx with an 11x6 prop and didn't have clearance of heavy grass problems.
One member at our field was running a 12.25 x 3.75 prop and that was a bit too long but otherwise there have been no issues.
Bob
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairfield,
NJ
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
Hey Nuker...
I am running the OS .40 LA with a 10*6 prop.
It is a Sod Farm so the fields are very thick.
It only cut grass in the high spots... which were plentiful. Also, we do not have a designated runway where we could cut the grass shorter. Our field is actually divided by irrigation ditches into 4 strips... the first one (closest to clubhouse) is used for the takeoff/landing zone.
I am running the OS .40 LA with a 10*6 prop.
It is a Sod Farm so the fields are very thick.
It only cut grass in the high spots... which were plentiful. Also, we do not have a designated runway where we could cut the grass shorter. Our field is actually divided by irrigation ditches into 4 strips... the first one (closest to clubhouse) is used for the takeoff/landing zone.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Whitby, ON, CANADA
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
Wow,
with grass that high, what about just raising the gear vs changing the wheels? 4" wheels would be excessive looking on the plane IMHO.
If the grass is that high however, other fliers at your field must be experiencing the same thing. What did they do?
with grass that high, what about just raising the gear vs changing the wheels? 4" wheels would be excessive looking on the plane IMHO.
If the grass is that high however, other fliers at your field must be experiencing the same thing. What did they do?
#14
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
ufdfireman:
I've flown at your field (last summer). Love the view for landing..set it up and let 'er glide in.
Hopefully this weather in NJ will get BETTER.
Tom
I have a TF182 Cessna (which I also use to tow a NINJA) and an ARF Pizzaz.
Crashed and burned an ARF Corsair there.
Building a GP super skybolt now.
I've flown at your field (last summer). Love the view for landing..set it up and let 'er glide in.
Hopefully this weather in NJ will get BETTER.
Tom
I have a TF182 Cessna (which I also use to tow a NINJA) and an ARF Pizzaz.
Crashed and burned an ARF Corsair there.
Building a GP super skybolt now.
#16
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairfield,
NJ
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avistar nose gear help - QUICK!
I flew on Saturday with the 3 1/2's .... they worked fine.
I actually took off and landed by myself without any troubles... my poor instructor had a dent in his finger from the trainer switch on the buddy-box. Next time I take off, I won't have the buddy box attached and I will actually 'solo'...
I actually took off and landed by myself without any troubles... my poor instructor had a dent in his finger from the trainer switch on the buddy-box. Next time I take off, I won't have the buddy box attached and I will actually 'solo'...